THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


?> 


' 


PROVERBS. 


BY 


REV.   WILLIAM   SCOTT  DOWNEY,  B.  D. 


"To  know  wisdom  and  instruction;  to  perceive  the  words 
of  understanding." 

Jr  BOTEEBB  OF  SOLOMON,  1 1  2. 


ELEVENTH  EDITION. 


NEW    YORK: 
PUBLISHED    FOR    THE    AUTHOR, 

BY    EDWARD    WALKER, 

114  FCLTON-BTRBBT. 
1858. 


Entered  according  to  Act  °f  Congress,  In  the  year  1868. 

BY  WILLIAM  SCOTT  DOWNEY, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Massachusetts 


•/*/• 


TO 

REV.    PHINEAS   STOWE, 


AS  A 
TOKEN     OF     THE      AUTHOR'S      PERSONAL     FRIENDSHIP 

AND  OF  HIS 
HIGHESr  APPRECIATION  FOR  THE   UNRESERVED  DEVOTION 

OF 

EXALTED    TALENTS    TO    THE     CAUSB 
OF 

HUMANITY  AND  EELIGION. 


1* 


545084 


PREFACE. 


I  BRIEFLY  commend,  with  grateful  feelings,  the 
Eleventh  Edition  of  my  little  offering  to  the  good 
will,  and  indulgent  criticism  of  men  of  moral  ex- 
cellence ;  hoping  for  the  same  substantial  evidence 
of  approbation  which  ran  out  the  first  eight  edi- 
tions, if  the  sentiments  in  its  leaves  are  truthfully 
applied. 


PROVEKBS 


WILLIAM    SCOTT    DOWNEY 


CHAPTER  I. 

1.  WOULD  men  but  look  more  minutely 
into  the  glass  of  their  own  imperfections, 
we  should  find  them  less  censorious. 

2.  A  well-spent  Sabbath   on  earth  pre- 
pares us  for  the  spending  of  a  better  one  in 
heaven. 


10  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 

3.  It  is  far  better  to  die  a  porter  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  than  a  courtier  in  the  fear 
of  the  devil. 

4.  Forced  love  must  soon  become  mortal 
hatred. 

5.  As  large  trees  are  not  the  most  pro- 
ductive, neither  are  wealthy  men  the  most 
liberal. 

6.  To  be  rich,  in  most  cases,   is  to  be 
arrogant  and  selfish. 

7.  Strong  drinks  are  like  wars,  making 
cripples  of  some  men,  and  sending  others 
to  the  grave. 

8.  No  man  should  think  better  or  worse 
of  himself  merely  on  account  of  his  birth ; 
but  rather  let  all  think  soberly. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  11 

9.  Beauty,  like  riches,  has  been  produc- 
tive of  more  evil  than  good. 

10.  The  tongue  of  the  slanderer  is   a 
deadly  poison ;  and  the  voice  of  the  scold 
gloomy. 

11.  Poor  is  the  man  who  can  boast  of 
nothing  more  than   gold ;   and   equally   so 
must   the   woman   be   who    can    boast   of 
nothing  more  than  her  beauty. 

12.  The  contrast  which  exists  between 
the  abstemious  man  and  the  drunkard  is 
this, — the  former  governs  his  affairs,  but  the 
affairs  of  the  latter  govern  him. 


12  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  II. 

1.  Rather  be  pierced  by  a  dart  than  by 
the  tongue  of  a  wife. 

2.  The  seas  are  not  still  while  the  winds 
blow ;    neither   can   a   man   be   spiritually 
alive    while   his    affections    are    upon    the 
earth. 

3.  He  who  would  guide  others,  ought 
first  to  guide  himself. 

* 

4.  The  religion  of  the  tongue  is  as  the 
leaves  of  a  tree;    while  that  of  the  heart 
is  its  fruits. 

5.  A   Christian   never   exposes    himself 
more  than  when  he  neglects  to  pray. 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  13 

6.  The  use  of    strong  drinks,   to  most 
persons,   is  as   pills  of  arsenic  disguised  in 
a  honeycomb ;  although  palatable  at  first, 
it  is  ruin  at  last. 

7.  Should  thy  birth  be  noble,  let  good 
deeds  show  it ;  should  thy  birth  be  mean, 
let  Christian  graces  beautify  it. 

8.  Men  possessing  small  souls  are  gene- 
rally the  authors  of  great  evil. 

9.  To  die  happy  you  must  live  holy ; 
receiving  injuries  without  complaining,  and 
readily  forgiving  them. 

10.  Better   that   ignorant   men    remain 
silent,  than  babble  from  the  lack  of  argu- 
ment. 

a 


14  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS 

11.  While    travelling  I  have  often  no- 
ticed  bull-dogs   lying   still    while    puppies 
were  barking. 

12.  For    a    tutor    to    give    a    pupil    a 
longer    lesson     than    he    can    receive,    is 
much  like  a  farmer  giving  a  heavier  load 
to  an  ass  than  he  can  take  to  market. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  15 


CHAPTER  III. 

1.  Truth,  although  harmless  as  the  dove, 
is  stronger  than  a  lion. 

2.  The  indolent   man  values   rest;    but 
the  industrious  man  labor. 

3.  Religion  is  a  substance,  while  plea- 
sure is  but  a  shadow. 

4.  Would  most  men  be  as  ready  to  aid 
the   needy   as   they   are    to    insult    them, 
many  would  be  a  blessing  and  not  a  curse 
to  those  around  them. 

5.  In  loving  a  godly  man  we  love  both 
God  and  man. 


16  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 

6.  Most   men    are    preparing    how    to 
live,  but,  alas !  not  how  to  die.     Let  such 
bear  in  mind  that  all  who    are    profligate 
of  their  means  in  summer,  must  perish   in 
winter — for  there  is  no  probation  in  eter- 
nity. 

7.  Would  women  be  as    silent  in  most 
things   as    they   are   in    telling   their    age, 
men    would   be   far   easier,    and    courts   of 
justice  less  troubled. 

8.  Never  be  too  precipitate  in  your  de- 
•  cisions ;  but  previously  to  pronouncing  them, 

maturely  consider  both  sides  of  the  ques- 
tion. 

9.  If  most  married  women  possessed  as 
much  prudence  as  they  do  vanity,  we  should 
find  many  husbands  far  happier. 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  17 

10.  We  frequently  find  men    while    at- 
tempting to  ridicule  others  exhibiting  their 
own  ignorance. 

11.  Would  ungodly  men  think  more  of 
the  union  which  exists   between  God   and 
his  ministers,  we  should   find   them  unwil- 
ling to  offend  the  poorest  of  them. 

12.  Punctuality  strengthens  confidence 
and  secures  respect. 

2* 


18  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1.  Man's  time  is  his  property ;  it  there- 
fore behooveth  him  to  improve  it. 

2.  Would   man   but   think  more  of  his 
probationary  stay  on  earth,  how  very  insig- 
nificant would  the   pleasure  of  this  transi- 
tory world  appear ! 

3.  To  bring  forward  past  grievances  is 
folly;    but  to  forgive,  and  strive  to  forget 
them,  is  wisdom. 

4.  An  uxorious  husband  makes  a  scold- 
ing wife ;  and  an  over-fond  parent  a  spoiled 
child. 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  19 

5.  Diligence,    frugality,    and    persever- 
ance, are  the  leading  steps  to  wealth. 

6.  Scolding  wives,  like  bad  clocks,  are 
seldom  in  order. 

7.  A  prudent  woman   studies  the  com- 
fort of  her  husband  and  household  ;  whereas 
a   scold   and  spendthrift    thinks   of  parties 
and  fashions. 

8.  Marriage  is  the  comfort  of  the  con- 
siderate and  prudent ;    but  the  torment  of 
the  inconsiderate  and  self-willed. 

9.  Through    religion    we   may   pass    to 
joys  above ;  but  through  worldly  pleasures 
we  shall  pass  to  torments  below. 

10.  A   wise  man  is  he   who   keeps   his 
own  secrets  and  adheres  to  charity. 


20  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 

11.  Religion  protects,  while  sin  exposes 
to  shame  and  contempt. 

12.  While  the  wish  of  many  individuals 
is  to  arrive  at  heaven,  we  daily  behold  them 
on  the  way  to  hell. 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  21 


CHAPTER  V. 

1.  Family  worship    is   a   spiritual   wall, 
which,  if  attended  to,  will  keep  from    the 
Christian's   door   such    temptations    as     he 
must  be  otherwise  exposed  to. 

2.  Whatever  has  been  the  fault  of  one 
woman  may  be  the  fault  of  another. 

3.  Ignorance  and  impudence  are  insepa- 
rable companions. 

4.  Riches    have     benefited     tens,    and 
ruined  thousands. 

5.  In  religion  consists  the  happiness  of 
the  wise  ;  but  in  gold  that  of  fools. 


22  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 

6.  It  is  wisdom  to  bear  with  evils  which 
we  cannot  remedy  ;  but  the  greatest  folly  to 
clamor  against  them. 

7.  Would  you  have  others  to  befriend 
you,  be  friendly ;  would  you  have  them  to 
respect  you,  respect  yourself. 

8.  As  there  is  innocence  in  babes,  and 
imbecility  in  old  age,  even  so  there  is  envy 
in  poverty,  and  arrogance  in  opulence. 

9.  To     receive    an    injury     is    to    be 
wounded;  but  to  forgive  and  forget  it,  is 
the  cure. 

10.  Law  without  justice  is  as  a  wound 
without  a  cure. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  23 

11.  Prosperity  gathers  smiles,  while  ad- 
versity scatters  them. 

12.  To  keep  your  OWD    secrets   is   wis- 
dom ;  but  to  expect  o<,h^s  tr*  keep  them  is 
folly. 


24  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

1.  A    gay   body   often   accompanies   a 
weeping  soul. 

2.  Money  makes  the  gay  lady  ;  but  vir- 
tue the  noble  woman. 

3.  The  sword  was   never  intended   for 
murder,  but  defence  ;  neither  was  the  tongue 
intended    for    slander,    but    prayers     and 
praises. 

4.  To    countenance    fraud   is  to  succor 
crime  ;  but  to  punish  crime  is  to  expose  the 
devil. 

5.  The  hearer  of  God's  word  is  a  tree 
planted ;  but  the  doer  is  a  fruitful  one. 


DOWNEY'S    PEOVERBS.  25 

6.  It  is  better  to   drink   the   water   of 
industry   from   an    earthen    cup,    than   the 
wine  of  indolence  from  a  silver  tankard. 

7.  Most  fashionable    ladies   are   as   dia- 
monds, because  they  are  more  costly  than 
useful. 

8.  Never   be   angry   with    your   neigh- 
bor because  his  religious  views  differ  from 
your   own ;  for   all   the  branches  of  a  tree 
do  not  lean  the  same  way. 

9.  Judge    nothing   by   the   appearance. 
The  more  beautiful  the   serpent,  the  more 
fatal  its  sting. 

10.  It  is  not  sinful  to  be  poor,  but  to 
be  dishonest ;  neither  is  it  sinful  to  be  rich, 

but  to  be  sordid. 

ft 


26  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 

11.  A  sacrifice  of  property  denotes  phi- 
lanthropy ;  but  a  sacrifice  of  feeling  denotes 
love. 

12.  Never  respect  men  merely  for  their 
riches ;  but  rather  for   their  philanthropy : 
we   do   not   value   the   sun   for  its  height, 
but  for  its  use. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  27 


CHAPTER  VII. 

1.  Man  ploughs  the  ground  to  make 
it  prolific ;  God  ploughs  the  heart  to  make 
us  Christians. 

*2.  The  difference  between  a  godly 
wife  and  a  worldly  one  is  this :  the  formei 
is  a  real  gem  shining  in  the  dark  even- 
ing of  adversity ;  but  the  latter  is  a  mere 
paste,  glittering  only  in  the  morning  of 
prosperity. 

3.  A  generous  and  a  liberal  man  gives 
what  he  can,  and  not  what  he  will ;  a 
covetous  man  gets  what  he  can  and  hoards 
it  at  his  will. 

0  The  above    was    written  in  compliment  to  my  Yankee 
wife.— W.  S.  D. 


28  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 

4.  For  an  individual  to  speak  his  mind 
on  every  trivial  occasion,  is   much   like    a 
quack  who  would   give  mercury  to  a  sick 
man  for  every  complaint. 

5.  To  love  for  beauty  and  not  for  vir- 
tue, is  to  love  the  gem  on  account  of  its 
lustre ;    but    to   love    for   virtue   and   not 
for  beauty,    is    to    love    the    ruby  for    its 

value. 

* 

6.  When   one   errs   from  ignorance   he 
merits   pity ;    but   when   he    errs   wilfully 
let  us   be   sparing   in   our  reproaches,    for 
all  men  have  human  sensibilities. 

7.  Jesting   among  men   is   an    evil    of 
greater  magnitude   than  most   persons   are 
inclined   to   believe.     While   indulging    in 
it  we  are   given   to  lies ;    but   Christians 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  29 

should  avoid  it.  How  can  we  believe 
the  parties  to-day,  who  deceived  us  but 
the  day  before  ? 

8.  Modesty   is   the    essence   of  purity, 
but    impudence    is     the     effluvia    of    de- 
pravity. 

9.  There   is    thunder   in   the   voice    of 
the    scold,    but    the    music   of     "  Apollo's 
lute"    in    the    language    of    the    amiable 
spouse ;  the  former  wounds,  but  the  latter 
heals. 

10.  As  there   is   innocence   in  infancy, 
mirth    in   feasting,    and    awful   solemnities 
in  death ;  so  there   is  quietude   in   virtue, 
vanity  in  pleasure,  and  deceit  in  wealth. 


8» 


80  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

1.  To  awake  a  woman's  curiosity  is  to 
make  her  pliable. 

2.  Virtue  and  hospitality  are  spontane- 
ous  growths,  which   are  often   to   be   met 
with  where  we  least  expect  them. 

3.  When  an  intimate  friend  turns  from 
us,  we  often  find  him  the  most  inveterate 
enemy. 

4.  The  rich  man  travels  as  he  pleases ; 
but  the  poor  man  travels  as  he  can. 

5.  To  pray  without  faith  is  to  make  a 
small  fire  while  it  is  raining  heavily. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVEBBS.  31 

6.  As  the  compass,  quadrant  and  chart 
are  the  mariner's  guide  while  on  a  voyage, 
even  so  should  the  Bible,  faith  and  prayer, 
be  the  Christian's  pilot  while  on  his  voyage 
through  time. 

7.  The    Christian's    trumpet   is   earnest 
and  fervent  prayer ;  let  him  not  forget  to 
sound  it  while  the  enemy  is  near. 

8.  As  honey  is  sweet  to  the  taste,  and 
roses  pleasant  to   the   smell,  even  so  does 
religion  speed  us  to  heaven,  but  pleasures 
to  hell. 

9.  If  a  felon  trembles  before  an  earthly 
judge,    who    is     but    a    mere    man,    how 
will    the    impenitent     man    stand     before 
the  heavenly  Judge,  who  is  both  God  and 
man? 


32  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

1.  As  there  are   charms   in  music,  and 
value  in  gold,  even   so  there  is  danger  in 
beauty,  and  delusion  in  pleasure. 

2.  It  is   easier   to   make   the    indigent 
wealthy,  and   the   arrogant   meek,  than   to 
make  a  rebel  loyal,   lawyers  preach  what 
they  practise,  or  parsons  practise  all  they 
preach. 

3.  A  flood  of  waters  can   but   destroy 
the  body ;  a  deluge   of  sin   must   destroy 
both  soul  and  body. 

4.  Wealth  may  conceal  a  man's  faults, 
strength   may   rid   him   of    his    foes;    but 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  33 

neither  the  one  nor  the  other  can  bribe 
the  monster  Death,  or  overcome  impartial 
Time. 

5.  The   match   which   lit    your    candle 
will  reduce  a  town  to  ashes.     The  smallest 
sin   will   endanger   both    the   soul   of   the 
preacher  and  hearer. 

6.  To    expect  to   reach    heaven   with- 
out living    holy,    is    to    expect    to   move 
the    Alps    by    the   strength    of   a   man's 
voice. 

7.  As  prejudice  is  deaf,   and  necessity 
lawless,    even  so  are    beauties  void,    and 
beggars  covetous. 

8.  Let  every  slanderer  consider  himself 
no    other    than    the    child  of   the    devil, 


84  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

who,  while  deceiving  Eve,  slandered  God. 
Gen.  3 :  4,  5. 

9.     Children    are    like    beggars ;    often 
coming  without  being  called. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  85 


CHAPTER  X. 

1.  Doctrine    without    precept  is   as   a 
book  without  print. 

2.  As  the   careless   rider,   who   on   de- 
scending a  hill  endangers  his  life  by  giv- 
ing slack   reins   to  his   horse,  even   so   do 
some  men  endanger  their  domestic  happi- 
ness by  giving  too  much  license  to  their 
thoughtless  young  wife. 

3.  The  beauty  of  a  man's  person  may 
attract     attention,     while     the     nobleness 
of  his    soul    alone   will  preserve   admira- 
tion. 


36  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 

4.  As  credulity  is   the   sister   of  inno- 
cence, even   so  is  concealment  the  enemy 
to  tranquillity. 

5.  For   an  individual   to  say  he   loves 
God,  and   at   the   same   time  be  otherwise 
than   charitable   towards   his    fellow    man, 
is  much  like  one  who  would  have  us  be- 
lieve  him   a   true   son   of    the    church  of 
Rome,  while  he  hates  the  Pope. 

6.  For  a  man  to  feed  his  body  at  the 
expense  of  his  soul,  is   the   greatest   folly ; 
nor  are   those  doing  less  who   desire   the 
applause  of  men  more  than  the  grace  of 
God. 

7.  The  warrior  who  unthinkingly  wan- 
ders from  his  camp  unarmed,  can  make  but 
feeble   resistance   when   overtaken   by   the 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  87 

enemy ;  even  so  must  be  the  case  with  all 
nominal  Christians. 

8.  The    prescriptions   of   skilful   physi 
cians    and    surgeons,    may    cure    the    in 
veterate  diseases  of  a  man's  body ;  where 
as     the     receipts     of    the     inspired     wri- 
ters   of    the    Bible    alone    can    heal    the 
soul. 

9.  Beautiful    peaches    are    not    always 
the  best  flavored ;    neither  are   handsome 
women  the  most  amiable. 


38  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XL 

1.  Those  who  cannot  keep  their  own 
secrets  ought  not  to  be  entrusted  with 
the  secrets  of  others.  How  can  we  expect 
the  plant  of  a  tropical  climate,  which 
drooped  in  our  summer,  to  flourish  in 
winter  ? 

2  The  prescriptions  of  quacks  can  but 
injure  the  body  of  man,  which  is  al- 
ready dying;  but  the  doctrine  of  atheists 
must  injure  the  soul,  that  can  never 
die. 

3.  To  be  truly  pious  is  to  be  truly 
loyal. 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  39 

4.  To    travel    across    the   Atlantic   we 
make    much    preparation ;    but    to    travel 
through  time,  we  make  little  or  no  prepa- 
ration.    This  is  folly ! 

5.  The  difference  between  a  wise  and 
foolish  man  is  this — the  former  sees  'much, 
thinks   much,    and   speaks   little ;    but   the 
latter  speaks    more    than    he    either    sees 
or  thinks. 

6.  As    the   covetous   man    thirsts   after 
gold,  and  the  drunkard  after  strong  drink, 
so    should    the    Christian's    thirst    be    for 
religion. 

7.  Wealth   may   add  splendor   to   life; 
while  religion  alone  can  secure  substantial 
happiness. 


40  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 

8.  The    mind   is   nothing   less    than    a 
garden   of    inestimable    value   which   man 
should  strive  to  cultivate. 

9.  Better   is   it   to   tell   a   man   of   his 
faults    than    to    speak    of    them    in    his 
absence. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS  41 


CHAPTER  XII. 

1.  To    acquire     wealth    is    to     create 
friends;    but  to  gain  knowledge  is   to   ac- 
quire   that    power    of    which    fame    will 
speak. 

2.  As  man  loves  the  vine   for  its  fruit; 
so   let   him  love  his  Creator  for   the   gift 
He  has  bountifully  bestowed  upon  him. 

3.  As   there   is   craft   in   law,    even   so 
is  there  fallacy  in  politics,  and  envy  in  in- 
digence. 

4.  As  the  diamond  is  among  precious 
stones,     even    so     is     the     Bible     among 
books. 


42  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

5.  For  one  to  admire  a  woman  merely 
for  her  beauty,  is  to  love  the  building  for 
its  exterior;  but  to  love  one  for  the  great- 
ness of  her  soul,  is  to  appreciate  the  tene- 
ment for  its  intrinsic  value. 

6.  To  seek  for  teetotallers  at  a  gin  shop, 
is    to    expect     donations   from    misers,  to 
hear    thieves    speaking    truths,    or   priests 
refusing  tithes. 

7.  Food  and  raiment  preserve  the  body ; 
but  prayer   and  fasting   must  benefit  the 
soul. 

8.  As    the    steamboat     goes     against 
wind   and   tide,   even  so    does    the    free- 
thinker argue  against  reason  and  revela- 
tion. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS.  43 

9.  Education  may  refine  the  manners; 
but    the    grace   of   God  alone   can  refine 
the  soul.  m 

10.  Sauce   maketh   palatable   the    dish 
of   the    epicure ;    even   so    doth    religion 
sweeten    the    bitter    cup   of    adversity   to 
the  Christian. 


44  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

1.  Never  repine   at  your  lot;    all   the 
heavenly  bodies  are  not  suns. 

2.  Light  and  darkness  cannot  exist  to- 
gether ;  neither  can  good  works  issue  from 
a  depraved  heart. 

3.  The  best  sauce  for  a  dish  of  adver- 
sity is  Christian  resignation. 

4.  The  difference  between  religion  and 
pleasure    is    this — the     former    enlightens 
and    elevates,    but    the    latter    intoxicates 
and  cankers. 

5.  It   is   not   the   mere   mastication    of 
the   food  which  satisfies   the  hungry  soul; 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  45 

neither  is  it  the  mere  reading  of  the  Bible 
that  benefits  the  reader,  but  the  digestion. 

6.  Of  your  neighbor's  faults   see  little, 
hear  little,  and  speak  less  than  you  either 
see,  or  hear. 

7.  While   the    reading   of    novels    and 
romances  confines  the  thoughts  of  men  to 
things   below,    the   perusal    of    the    Bible 
raises  them  to  things  above. 

8.  We  often   find   men   possessing   for- 
bidding appearances,  like  cloudy  mornings, 
which    end    in   bright    noons,    and:  balmy 
evenings. 

9.  As  we   do   not   appreciate   the   dia- 
mond    merely     for     its      lustre,      neither 
should    we    value    doctrine     without    ex- 
ample. 


46  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XIV, 

1.  To  touch  a  man's  pocket   is   to   try 
his  philanthropy. 

2.  No  horse  is  so  sure   footed   but   he 
may   stumble ;    neither   is   any   woman   so 
pious  but  she  may  fall. 

3.  It  is  good  for  a  man   to   repent    of 
his  sins ;  but  better  for  him  had  he  never 
sinned. 

4.  The    vanity   of    woman,    like   ambi- 
tion   in    man,     too    frequently    leads    her 
into   snares   from   which    she    seldom    ex- 
tricates   herself    without    sustaining    much 
loss     of     time,     and      embarrassment     of 
mind. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  47 

5.  The  smiles  of  women   are  of  so  irre- 
sistible  a   nature,    that   while  warriors  are 
subdued  by  them,  monks   and  abbots  are 
disrobed  of  their  sanctity. 

6.  Would  men  take  the    same    care   of 
their    souls    as    they    do    of    their   bodies, 
we    should  find  our  churches   as  thronged 
upon    the    Sabbath,    as    our    markets    are 
upon  a  Saturday. 

7.  The     difference     between    the    phi 
lanthropist   and   miser   is  this — the  formei 
lives  to  give,  but  the  latter  dies  to  give. 

8.  Most  women  act  as  if  they  were  born 
to  wound,  and  not  to  heal. 

9.  While  bars  and  bolts  may  baffle  the 
thief,  virtue  alone  will  defeat  the  slanderer. 


48  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS 


CHAPTER  XV. 

1.  As  drinks  have  their  dregs,  so  does 
life  have  its  sediment. 

2.  Power  will  accomplish   much;    but 
perseverance  more. 

3.  Reason   without    revelation   is   as   a 
ship  without  a  rudder. 

4.  The   lack  of  gold  can  but  impair  a 
man's  dying  body ;  but  the  lack  of  wisdom 
must  ruin  his  living  soul. 

5.  All  those  who  are  disposed  to  serve 
none   other    than    their    personal    friends, 
are  like  the  epicure  who  provides  for  his 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  49 

household  only  such  dishes  as  suit  his  own 
palate. 

6.  To  make  others  wealthy  you  must 
possess  gold  ;  even  so  to  accomplish  a 
reformation  in  our  fellow-men,  we  our- 
selves must  first  be  reformed. 

*7.  Prayer  and  fasting  will  lead  the 
Christian  to  the  arms  of  Jesus ;  but  sump- 
tuous dinners  to  the  arms  of  Morpheus. 

8.  Acid  will  deprive  the  spurious  metal 
of  its  lustre  ;  so  will  adversity  rid  the 
spendthrift  of  her  sycophants. 


°  A  sleepy  Deacon  during  Sabbath  afternoon's  divine  ser- 
vice, gave  rise  to  my  writing  the  above. 

W.  S.  D. 


50  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

** 

1.  As  a  good  tree  produces  good  fruit ; 
even  so  does  a  virtuous  soul  produce  pure 
thoughts. 

2.  No   man   is   so  learned  but  he  may 
be  taught ;  neither  is  any  one  so  illiterate 
but  he  may  teach. 

3.  Of  what  shall  man  be  proud  ?     See- 
ing  his   greatness    must   decline,    and    his 
beauty  fade. 

4.  Look  at  home  first ;  after,  you  may 
see  more  clearly  abroad.     All  who  would 
accomplish  a  reformation  in  others  should 
first  be  reformed  themselves. 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  61. 

5.  A  man  cannot  walk   among   thorns 
and  not  be  pierced  ;  neither  can  he  lead  an 
impious  life  and  die  happy. 

6.  It  is  easier  to  make  a  glass  tube  pli- 
able than  to  convince  an  obstinate  woman 
she  is  in  fault. 

7.  It   is   not   the   mere  sight  of  medi- 
cine that  cures  the  sick ;  neither  is  it  the 
prayer  of  the  tongue  that  prepares  us  for 
heaven. 

8.  A  pimple  may  occasion  death  ;  even 
so   the   smallest   sin   may   lead   to   eternal 
misery. 

9.  Birds  of  fine  plumage   are   not   the 
best  songsters ;  neither  are  comely  women 
the  most  virtuous. 


62  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

1.  To  be  poor,  in  most  cases,  is  to  be 
covetous  and  despondent. 

2.  Falsehood  is  a  polished  exterior ;  but 
truth  is  a  gemmed  interior. 

3.  The  schoolboy's  guide  should  be  his 
parents  and  teacher  ;  even  so  should  every 
man's  guide  be  the  Bible  and  his  conscience. 

4.  As  the  painted  woman  receives  her 
beauty  from  embellishment,   even  so  does 
the  plagiarist  receive  his  popularity  from 
the  chemical  combinations  or  the  genius  of 
others.     The  one  is  the  Ignis  fatuus  which 
but  deceives ;  the  other  the  rainbow  span- 


DOWNEY'S   PEOVERBS.  53 

ning  the  beauty  spread  out  to  the  delighted 
gaze. 

5.  Pleasure  rusts  the  soul,  but  religion 
brightens  it. 

6.  No  man's  sight  is  so  strong  that  he 
can  read   in  the  dark ;  neither  can  reason 
without  revelation  guide  us  to  heaven. 

7.  All  who  laugh  in  time  may  mourn  in 
eternity. 

8.  Countries  are  not  without  their  coun- 
terfeit money  ;  neither  are  societies  without 
their  counterfeit  feelings. 

9.  Pleasure  is  the  sun  of  the  morning, 
the  cloud  of  the  meridian,  and  the  storm  of 
the  evening. 

c* 


54  DOWNEY'S   PKOVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

1.  To  speak  ill  of  an  individual  in  his 
absence  is  to  kick  at  a  dead  lion. 

2.  A  savage  cannot  understand  the  pro- 
perties,   nor   the   value   of    the    diamond ; 
neither  can  a  vicious  man  appreciate  the 
graces  of  a  virtuous  wife. 

3.  No  day  is  so  bright  but  it  may  have 
its  clouds ;  neither  is  there  any  country  so 
tranquil  but  it  may  be  politically  agitated. 

4.  Never  despise   small   things,  for  we 
were  all  infants  before  we  became  men,  and 
pupils  ere  we  became  teachers. 


DOWNEY    S     PEOVEBBS.  55 

5.  As  fear  accompanies  guilt,  even  so 
does  beauty  ensnare  genius. 

6.  The    fruit   of   small    trees   is   easily 
stolen ;  so  the  charms  of  the  comely  poor 
are  easily  ravished. 

7.  The  ungodly  rich  man  in  the  hour  of 
affliction  is  like  the  proud  oak  of  the  forest 
in  a  storm ;  but  the  pious  poor  man,  the 
reed  in  the  bog. 

8.  As  a  storm  conceals  the  glories  of  the 
sun  and  defaces  the  beauty  of  the  landscape, 
even  so  do  maddening  passions  deform  the 
soul,   bearing  along  with   their  impetuous 
waves  both  pestilence  and  death. 


56  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

1.  The  difference  between  a  puppy  and 
a  fool  is  this, — the  one  is  born  blind  and 
continues  so  for  nine  days 'only,  while  the 
other  remains  with  his  eyes  shut  all  his  life. 

2.  As  the  farmer  ploughs   the   ground 
and  sows  the  seed,  so  does  the  minister  of 
the  gospel  pray  and   preach ;    the  former 
needs  the  natural  showers  of  the  season,  the 
latter  the  living  showers  of  the  Spirit  of 
God. 

3.  The  difference  between  the  godly  and 
the  ungodly  man  is  this, — the  one  like  the 
bee  sucks  in  the   sweets  of  religion ;    the 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  67 

other  like  the  spider  drinks  in  the  poison  of 
pleasure. 

4.  Women's   eyes   have    pierced   more 
hearts  than  ever  did  the  bullets  of  war. 

5.  As  a  fish  out  of  his  native  element, 
so  is  the  fool  in  the  society  of  the  wise. 

6.  Man's  fall   in  Adam  is  the  chrysalis 
of  the  insect ;  but  his  resurrection  in  Christ 
is  the  beauteous  creature  soaring  aloft,  his 
wings  bathed  in  the  glorious  light  of  the 
Sun  of  Righteousness. 

7.  The  difference   between  the  humble 
minister  of  Jesus  and  the  fashionable  popu- 
lar preacher  is  this, — the  former  studies  the 
pasturage  for  his  flock  ;  the  latter  the  trans- 
ferability  of  their  wool. 


58  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

*1.  As  the  ruby  when  set  with  the  dia- 
mond, even  so  is  a  peer  who  possesses  Chris- 
tian graces. 

2.  The  grace  of  a  Sovereign  makes  the 
peer ;  but  the  grace  of  God  alone  makes  the 
true  nobleman. 

3.  He  who  under  the  guise  of  friendship 
appropriates   the   services  of  the   poor   to 
advance  his  own  immediate  interest,  is  no 
better  than  the  vampire  bat. 


0  The  above  was  written  in  compliment  to  Lord  Clarendon, 
late  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland 

W.  S.  D. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  59 

4.  As   an    intoxicating    drink   is   to   a 
toper,  so  is  flattery  to  a  fool. 

5.  Great   buildings  are  not   always  the 
best  furnished ;  neither  are  large  men  the 
most  intelligent. 

6.  Bright  days  do  not  always  constitute 
warm  ones ;  neither  do  many  smiles  make 
the  true  friend. 

7.  When  the  lion  becomes  infirm,  asses 
kick  at  him  with  impunity. 

8.  There  is  surer  footing  on  the  ice  than 
by  the  side  of  a  comely  profligate. 

9.  To   neglect   a  wife's   pleasure   is   to 
create  a  storm  ;  but  to  grant  her  request  is 
to  remain  tranquil. 

10.  As  purified  silver  is  to  the  silver- 
smith, so  is  a  pious  wife  to  her  husband. 


60  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XXL 

1.  An  eastern  bashaw  once  complained 
that  he  had  no  shoes,  but  when  he  saw  a 
man  without  legs  he  was  content. 

2.  The  shade  of  faith  and  the  cloak  of 
true  godliness  is  the  best  equipage  for  the 
storm  of  adversity,  and  the  keen  atmosphere 
of  selfishness. 

3.  As  chancery  is  the  most  durable  suit 
in  law,  even  so  is  religion  the  most  lasting 
suit  for  man's  voyage  through  time. 

4.  We  do  not   appreciate  the  diamond 
merely  for  its  brilliancy,  but  for  its  proper- 
ties ;  neither  do  we  behold  the  beauty  of 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  61 

God  merely  in  his  work  of  creation,  but 
more  so  in  the  stupendous  one  of  redemp- 
tion. 

5.  Storm  and  tempest  purify  the  atmo- 
sphere; penury  and  disappointment  purify 
the  moral  atmosphere  of  the  soul. 

6.  Rum  intoxicates  the  toper;  love  the 
amorous;  and  prosperity  the  fool. 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

1.  When   a   man   loses   his    money,   he 
loses  that  which  labor  can  restore ;    when 
he  estranges  a  friend,  he  may  gain  others ; 
but  when  he  loses  his  spirit,  he  is  lost  in- 
deed. 

2.  Although  we  must  sometimes  receive 
silver  and  copper  in  exchange  for  our  gold, 
we  are  not  bound  to  keep  them  together. 

3.  The    difference   between   the    godly 
and  the  ungodly  is  this, — the  one  launches 
his   bark   in   a  place  of  broad  rivers  and 
streams,   where    the   sure   mercies   of  God 
strengthen  his  mast  and  full  his  sail;    but 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  68 

the  other  plunges  into  the  turbid  waters  of 
pleasure  and  dissipation. 

4.  To   hoard   gold   is   the   warranty   to 
wealth ;    but  the  only  insurance  to  heaven 
is  true  godliness. 

5.  Were  most  men   as  liberal   as   they 
are  curious,  their  progress  to  heaven  would 
be  more  rapid. 

6.  Religion  is  a  sovereign  balm  to  the 
penitent ;  but  burning  coals  to  the  scoffer. 

7.  The    Grammar    school    prepares    us 
for  College ;    so   do  our  frequent  religious 
meetings   on   earth,    fit    us    for    the    great 
perpetual  meeting  in  heaven. 

8.  As  a  crowded  stomach  retards  diges- 
tion, so  does  prosperity  retard  charity. 


64  DOWNEY'S  PROVEKBS. 

9.  As  a  stove  without  fire  to  the  poor, 
so  is  the  language  of  the  selfish  rich  man 
to  the  indigent. 

10.  As  the  furnace  purifies  the  silver, 
so  does  charity  rid  wealth  of  its  dross. 


DOWNEY'S   PKOVERBS.  65 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

1.  The  obedience  of  a  wife  to  her  hus- 
band, is  loyalty  to  a  sovereign,  and  submis- 
sion to  God. 

• 

2.  With  the  eye  of  the  body  we  be- 
hold   things    present    and   changing;    but 
with   the  eye  of  the  soul  we  see   glories 
unchanging. 

3.  Water   quenches   the    thirst   of    our 
bodies ;    but  the  grace  of  God  alone  can 
satisfy  the  soul. 

4.  As  the  earth,  when  manured,  proves 
prolific,  so  should  every  hearer   of  God's 
word  prove  fruitful. 

6* 


66  DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS. 

5.  A    punctual    man    is    a    seasonable 
shower. 

6.  As  a  prime  seed  sown  in  rich  soil, 
so    is    a    good   deed   done   to   a    grateful 
soul. 

7.  He   who   preaches   the   gospel    per- 
forms a  noble  work ;  but  he  who  practices 
that   which   he   inculcates,   accomplishes   a 
much  nobler  one. 

8.  As   the   snow  before   the  sun,   even 
so   is    a    polished    lie    before    the    naked 
truth. 

9.  Prosperity  graces  the  sunshine  of  the 
summer;    but  true  godliness  beautifies  the 
gloom  of  the  winter. 

10.  The  difference  between  the  preach- 
ing  and   the   practising   of  the  Gospel   is 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  67 

this, — the    former    scatters    the    seed,    the 
latter  gathers  and  distributes  the  harvest. 

11.  The    harsh   language   of  an   angry 
man  is  the  mere  scum  of  his  soul. 

12.  Those  who  use  hard  words  to  their 
wives  during  life,  and  speak  soft  ones  of 
them  after  their  death,  are  much  like  the 
spoiled  child  and  his  drum.     He  knocked 
in  both  sides  and  wept  afterwards. 


68  DOWNEY'S  PXOVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

1.  The  miser   covets  gold,   the   soldier 
valor,    but   the    Christian    true    godliness ; 
the   first   deceives,   the   second   intoxicates 
and  declines,  the  third  cherishes  and  ele- 
vates unto  eternal  glory. 

2.  When  the.  noble  soul  bends  to  be- 
nevolence, it  adds  lustre  to  brilliancy;  so 
does  the  selfish  soul  add  to  its  own  gloom 
by  turning  aside  to  sordid  principles. 

3.  God  forgives  sins  on  contrition — man 
on  confession.      The  Creator  looks  to  the 
root  of  the  vine — the  creature  to  its  fair 
leaves  and  branches. 


DOWNEY'S'  PROVERBS.  69 

4.  Steam  gives   action   to  the  engine ; 
even  so  does  the  love  of  Jesus  give  life  to 
the  soul. 

5.  Humility    is     a    slow    tide,    which, 
springing  from   God,   will   bear   us   on    to 
heaven.     Pride  is  a  boisterous  sea,  spring- 
ing from  the  Devil,  and  hurrying  us  on  to 
endless  perdition. 

6.  As  the  tree  cannot  exist  without  its 
sap,  neither  can  the  soul  be  spiritually  alive 
without  the  grace  of  God. 

7.  Hypocrisy  is  that  hole  through  which 
our  vicious  habits  peep  out. 

8.  As  a  cancer  is  to  man's  body,  so  is 
party  zeal  to  his  soul. 

9.  Flattery  is  refined  deception — it  ia 
the  froth   of  language — it  is  the   alcohol 


70  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 

of  social  intercourse — it  is  the  prescription 
of  the  subtle — and  the  nectar  of  fools. 

10.  He  who  stoops  a  little,  saves  trou- 
ble ;  but  he  who  stoops  low,  exposes  him- 
self. 

11.  He   who   shuts    his    eyes   to   some 
things,  saves  his  sight;  but  he  who  winks 
at  all  things  is  a  fool. 

12.  As  a  grim  skull  lies  covered  beneath 
the  fairest  face  ;   so  does  an  abyss  of  torment 
lie  beneath  the  surface  of  the  glittering  sea 
of  sensual  pleasure  and  dissipation. 

13.  As  an  empty  house  with  a  polished 
exterior,  even  so  is  a  comely  man  void  of 
understanding. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  71 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

1.  Keen  adversity  is  the  best  crucible  in 
which  to  try  a  man's  integrity. 

2.  Pence  may  lead  us  into  troubles  from 
which  multiplied  pounds  cannot  extricate  us. 

3.  The   ball    which    killed    the    enemy 
may  kill  the  hero.     The  man  who  slanders 
his  enemy,  may  slander  h\£  friend.     Beware 
of  the  slanderer ! 

4.  There    is    more    charity   in    giving 
loaves  to  the  poor  than  in  delivering  elo- 
quent sermons  to  the  rich. 

5.  As  a  ''Sunday  suit3'  is  to  a  laboring 


72  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

man,  even  so  is  religion  to  some  professing 
Christians. 

6.  As  a  snail  in  a  beautiful  shell,  even 
so  is  the  selfish  preacher  in  a  costly  pulpit. 

7.  Intolerance  is  the  acid  of  a  preju- 
diced heart,  but  charity  is  the  fruit  of  god- 
liness. 

8.  Honesty  in  man  shades  his  other  fail- 
ings;   so  does  modesty  in  woman  veil  in 
some  measure  her  homeliness. 

9.  Good  for  a  man  to  know  when  he 
should  be  silent;  fools  babble  and  are  de- 
rided. 

10.  It  is  a  misfortune  to  be  exposed; 
but  folly  for  a  man  to  expose  himself. 

11.  A  good  sermon,  like  a  safe  channel, 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  73 

ought  to  be  more  appreciated  for  its  depth 
than  for  its  length. 

12.  Those  who  are  not  full  grown  ought 
not  to  laugh  at  giants. 

13.  All  who  associate  with  pigs,  must 
tolerate  their  filth  ;  even  so  must  those  who 
lay  with  dogs  rise  with  fleas. 

14.  When  the  hour  of  adversity  arrives, 
when  false  friends  are  scattered,  when  we 
are  moving  through  the  keen  atmosphere  of 
selfishness,  then  it  is  that  the  virtuous  wife, 
like  an  angel  of  light,  shines  with  peculiar 
lustre. 

15.  From  the  magnitude  of  the  brilliant 
and  its  properties,  the  jeweller  may  arrive 
at  its  value ;  but  who  can  comprehend  fully 
the  preciousness  of  man's  soul,  except  the 

7 


74  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 

God  who  gave  it,  and  the  Saviour  who  died 
in  agony,  to  redeem  it. 

16.  The  admirers  of  heroes  erect  costly 
but  cold  monuments  to  their  fame  ;  but  the 
lovers  of  Jesus  build  his  monument  in  their 
hearts.     Its  basis  is  love  ;  its  superstructure 
a  lively  faith,  which  exercises  itself  in  the 
cleansing  efficacy  of  Christ's  blood. 

17.  Selfishness  is  the  gout  of  the  soul, 
and  sordidness  its  accompaniment. 

18.  Religion  on  earth  is  joy  in  heaven. 

19.  A  throne  cannot  be  occupied  by  two 
kings  in  the  same  reign;    neither  can  any 
man's  heart  be  with  God  and  the  world. 

20.  Crude  fruits  sicken  the  body;  spu- 
rious doctrine  surfeits  the  souL 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  75 

21.  Until  a  man  feels  that  lie  appre- 
ciates a  sovereign's  government,  he  cannot 
be  considered  truly  loyal ;  neither  can  any 
one  be  a  lover  of  Jesus,  until  he  feels  the 
weight  of  his  sins. 


76  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

1.  As  the  white  ashes  upon  the  burning 
coal,  so  is  the  innocence  of  the  hypocrite. 

2.  As  the  gallows  appears  to  the  culprit, 
so  should  the  evil  of  disobedience  appear  to 
the  obstinate. 

3.  As  reproachful  language  is  to  suffer- 
ing  humanity,   even    so  is  the  sight  of  a 
coffin  to  the  dying  man. 

4.  The  thoughtful  man  thinks  of  dying, 
but  the  wise  man  prepares  for  the  change. 

5.  As  an  orchard  when  manured  pro- 
duces pleasant  trees  and  luscious  fruit,  so 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  77 

does     a     cultivated     mind    produce    pure 
thoughts  and  noble  actions. 

6.  Let  not  thy  chair  precede  thee  to  a 
feast :  neither  do  thou  eat  thy  bread  before 
thou  dost  earn  it. 

7.  Salt  savors  the  broth,  so  does  labor 
give  a  relish  to  pleasure. 

8.  Many  clouds  do  not  always  produce 
heavy  showers,  neither  do  the  hasty  pro- 
mises of  fickle  men  yield  us  much  good. 

9.  Spontaneous  love,  much  like  plants  of 
the  same  nature,  is  not  easily  eradicated. 

10.  The    selfish   rich    man   shackles  his 
bounty,  but  the  "  Steward  of  God"  scatters 
his  abroad. 

7» 


78  DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

11.  As  perception  is  to  man's  mind,  so 
is  the  grace  of  God  to  his  soul. 

12.  As  the  snow  melts  before  the  sun, 
even  so  does  woman's  purity  melt  before 
contagion. 

13.  The  dog  who  barks  the  loudest  is 
not  always  the  best  watcher,   neither  are 
braggadocios  the  most  valiant. 


DOWNEY'S   PROVERBS.  79 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

1.  Gold  is  the  key  to  society ;  but  pov- 
erty its  barrier. 

2.  Men  should  be  more  guarded  against 
the  smiles  of  the  painted  harlot  than  the 
two-edged  sword  of  an  enemy. 

3.  Asses  do  not  give  birth  to  elephants  ; 
neither  do  men  of  small  souls  perform  noble 
deeds. 

4.  As  the  morning  cloud  and  the  early 
dew,  even  so  is  hastily  formed  acquaintance. 

5.  To  get  all  you  can  honestly  is  Chris- 
tian ;  but  to  give  all  you  can  cheerfully  is 
Godly. 


80  DOWNEY'S   PEOVERBS. 

6.  True  godliness  is  that  capital  which 
yields  us  an  heavenly  treasure,  that  neither 
moth  nor  rust  can  corrupt. 

7.  As   the  wrongs   of    most  wives   are 
imaginary,  even  so  are  the  real  wants  of 
most  men. 

8.  All  who  preach   the  Gospel  of  the 
meek  and   lowly  Jesus  to  others,  and  are 
themselves   arrogant,  are   but   the  "ass  in 
lion  skin." 

9.  The  weak-minded  woman  who   slan- 
ders her  husband,  is  like  the  fool  who  spits 
in  the  sky,  or  the  bird  who  builds  her  nest 
with  thorns. 

10.  A  gift  is  the  due  of  a  beggar ;  even 
so  is  silent  contempt  the  merit  of  a  coxcomb. 

11.  It  is  more  possible  for  the  indigent 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  81 

to  aid  the  needy,  than  for  an  unconverted 
man  to  enjoy  the  Jesus  that  he  preaches. 

12.  "Alone !"    No  man  can  be  alone.    If 
he  is  truly  pious,  Jesus  dwells  in  his  bosom ; 
if  an  unconverted  character,  the  devil  reigns 
in  his  heart. 

13.  Were  the  minds  of  some  "ladies"  as 
rich  as  their  jewelled  fingers,  we  should  find 
their  lords  more  satisfied. 

14.  As  a  mushroom  is  among  roses,  so  is 
a  shrew  in  a  costly  establishment. 

15.  Those  who  sink  into  the  ocean  are 
lost  to  time  ;    but  all  who  sink  by  strong 
drink  are  lost  to  eternity. 


82  DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS. 

CHAPTER  XXVIIL 

1.  The  diamond  shows  not  its  greatest 
lustre  on  a  cloth  of  gold,  but  from  a  fabric 
of  black  gleam  forth  the  brightest  sparkles ; 
so  do  the  virtues  of  a  good  wife — not  from 
the    costly  drawing-room  of  the  luxurious 
mansion,  but  from  the  garret-room  of  the 
sick  husband  do  they  scintillate. 

2.  The  blast  of  the  wintry  wind  chills 
the  body ;  but  the  atmosphere  of  selfishness 
freezes  the  soul. 

3.  Religion    is    the    clearest    telescope 
through  which  we  can  behold  the  beauties 
of  creation,  and  the  good  of  our  Creator. 

4.  Have  an  eye  to  all  you  sell ;  but  eyes 
to  all  you  buy. 

5.  It  is  not  on  the  crowded  river,  nor 
yet  in   the  thronged  haven,  that  the  bark 
sails  the  safest ;    neither  is  it  in  public  as- 


DOWNEY'S    PROVERBS.  822 

semblies  and  churches  that  the  soul  com- 
munes with  its  God,  but  in  the  closet. 

6.  Wholesome     advice     to    fools,    kind 
words  to  scolds,  and  gold  to  misers,  are  real 
pearls  cast  into  pigsties. 

7.  Pure  love  is  immortal ;"  springing  up 
in  time,  it  runs  through  eternity. 

8.  Noble   actions    speak    loudest    after 
death. 

9.  Thieves  are  themselves  the   greatest 
losers  ;   for  in  robbing  others  they  are  de- 
prived of  that  quietude  which  wealth  cannot 
bestow. 

10.*  Some  professors  of  Christianity 
speed  to  places  of  public  amusement  as 
gamblers  do  to  their  dens ;  but  crawl  to 
religious  meetings  as  culprits  do  to  be 
hanged. 

°  An  old  experience  recently  penned  in  a  lecture-room. 

W.  S.  D. 


83 


THE 


WEALTHY  FARMER  AND  HIS  SONS. 


A  CERTAIN  wealthy  farmer  had  two  sons. 
The  first-born  was  a  self-conceited  youth, 
but  the  youngest  a  meek,  obedient  child. 

The  old  man  feeling  a  desire  to  provide 
for  them,  requested  that  they  both  should 
accompany  him  to  his  study ;  when  he 
addressed  them  in  the  following  words : 
My  dear  children,  you  are  perhaps  sensible 
that  the  many  years  of  my  life  have  taught 
me  human  wisdom,  and  the  blessing  of  God 
has  abundantly  crowned  my  labors. 


S4  THE     WEALTHY     FARMER 

The  growing  infirmities  of  age  make  me 
anxious  to  see  you  both  settled  in  life, 
that  you  may  become  worthy  members  of 
society,  and  ever  prove  yourselves  deserving 
of  my  love. 

I  now  place  at  your  own  disposal  one 
hundred  thousand  pounds ;  suggesting,  for 
your  benefit,  that  you  consult  me  in  all 
important  transactions.  Never  sell  what 
you  would  not  be  willing  to  purchase,  and 
do  not  purchase  things  by  their  appearance. 

Both  listened  to  their  father  with  atten- 
tion, and  after  receiving  their  portion,  took 
their  leave  ;  but,  alas,  with  different  dispo- 
sitions ! 

The  oldest  son  was  determined  to  do  as 
he  pleased,  and  never  seek  the  counsels  of 
the  old  man  ;  while  the  youngest  was  con- 
scious that  without  his  father's  advice  he 


AND     HIS     SONS.  85 

could  neither  improve  his  time  nor  his 
money. 

The  brothers  took  different  roads  and 
entered  into  different  branches  of  business. 
The  first-born  never  returned  to  see  his  kind 
father,  nor  to  seek  his  counsel,  but  was  at 
all  times  to  be  found  in  the  company  of  the 
thoughtless,  the  spendthrift,  and  the  de- 
bauchee. Thus  he  wasted  his  time,  and 
squandered  his  money,  and  was  at  length 
reduced  to  penury.  He  became  a  curse  to 
all  around  him,  and  died  in  wretchedness. 

The  youngest  son,  who  was  frequent  in 
his  visits  to  his  father,  to  seek  his  counsel, 
became  wise  and  wealthy,  so  that  he  was  a 
comfort  to  the  old  man,  and  a  bless'ing  to 
society.  He  died  happy. 


86  APPLICATION. 


APPLICATION. 

We  are  to  understand  from  the  parable, 
that  God  is  the  wise  and  wealthy  father, 
and  mankind  are  his  children. 

He  has  wisely  suited  duties  to  privileges. 
His  invitations  are  to  all.  We  all  have 
talents  given  us  to  improve.  We  are  all  to 
seek  him  in  prayer  as  we  need  his  counsel. 
Without  his  advice  we  must  err ;  without 
being  frequently  at  his  house  we  are  in  dan- 
ger of  being  lost. 

Let  all  those  who  would  neglect  churches 
for  taverns  and  theatres,  bear  in  mind  that 
the  longer  they  turn  from  God,  the  harder 
He  will  be  to  turn  to  them. 

To  seek  God  often  is  the  highest  wisdom ; 
but  to  forsake  Him  is  the  greatest  folly,  the 
worst  ingratitude. 


APPLICATION.  87 

Finally,  let  us  all,  bear  in  mind,  that 
when  we  sin  against  God  from  ignorance, 
He  pities,  and  will,  on  contrition,  pardon 
us ;  but  when  we  transgress  his  laws  wil- 
fully, we  shall  be  beaten  with  many  stripes ; 
and  that  notwithstanding  "  many  are  called, 
but  few  are  chosen." 


89 


THE 


GKEAT  KING  AND  HIS  SERVANTS. 


A  CERTAIN  Christian  King,  whose  highest 
ambition  was  to  do  good,  and  who  had 
long  benefited  his  subjects  by  his  mild 
but  firm  government  and  his  equitable 
decisions,  wishing  openly  to  display  to  the 
nations  around  him  his  wisdom  and  benefi- 
cence, called  his  Cabinet  together,  and  ad- 
dressed them  as  follows : — 

My  subjects!  It  is  my  wish  to  with- 
draw from  the  country  for  a  season,  and 
I  have  convened  you  to  instruct  you  in 
relation  to  the  administration  of  my  af- 


90  THE    GREAT    KING 

fairs  during  my  absence,  that  there  be  no 
sufficient  excuse  for  finding  a  deranged 
state  of  things  upon  my  return. 

First.  Carry  on  your  operations  in  the 
same  way  that  I  do  while  I  am  with  you, 
for  I  shall  hold  each  one  of  you  strictly 
accountable  for  his  actions  upon  my  re- 
turn. 

Second.  I  insist  upon  your  regular 
correspondence  with  me.  The  treasury 
I  place  entirely  in  your  hands,  and  give 
you  full  power  to  make  such  appropria- 
tions as  you  shall  deem  best  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  interest  of  the  kingdom, 
and  the  happiness  of  my  people.  I  would 
suggest  that  you  freely  exercise  towards 
them  that  mercy  which  has  ever  been  ex- 
tended to  you. 

The    hour   of   my  return   is   uncertain; 


AND    HIS    SERVANTS.  91 

but  my  laws  must  be  faithfully  admi- 
nistered, and  all  my  plans  strictly  carried 
out  according  to  the  views  I  have  laid  be- 
fore you. 

Upon  my  return  I  shall  institute  a  strict 
inquiry  as  to  the  manner  in  which  the 
government  has  been  administered  during 
my  absence. 

Then  shall  I  reward  the  faithful,  and 
punish  those  who  have  been  otherwise. 

He  then  dismissed  the  Cabinet,  and  pri- 
vately withdrew  from  the  country. 

They  had  only  to  become  assured  of  his 
departure  to  throw  off  all  restraint,  and, 
most  of  them,  act  according  to  the  dictates 
of  their  own  selfish  interests.  They  bought 
and  sold.  They  built  up  and  threw 
down.  They  neglected  to  correspond  with 
their  master.  They  expended  the  gold  of 


92  THE    GREAT    KING 

his  treasury  only  for  their  own  emolument, 
or  that  of  their  personal  friends. 

While  things  went  on  in  this  way,  a 
smaller  number  endeavored,  with  singleness 
of  purpose,  to  accomplish  their  good  King's 
will. 

The  King  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  re- 
turned. 

He  summoned  his  servants  before  him, 
and  commenced  an  investigation  of  the 
manner  in  which  his  affairs  had  been  con- 
trolled. But  sad  was  the  state  of  things. 

The  ministers  of  the  Cabinet  and  his 
courtiers  thus  approached  him  : — 

"While  you,  my  lord,  were  absent,  see 
the  good  we  have  done.  We  have  enacted 
laws  from  which  taxes  have  been  collected 
from  our  poor  laboring  brethren.  We  have 
built  navies,  and  with  the  arms  of  our 


AND    HIS    SERVANTS.  93 

country  subdued  many  neighboring  nations. 
We  have  torn  down  the  old  houses  of  your 
kingdom,  and  built  costly  ones  in  their 
stead.  And  finally,  seeing  the  prosperous 
state  of  things  resulting  from  our  wise 
councils,  we  considered  it  superfluous  to 
trouble  you  with  our  correspondence  con- 
cerning it." 

Next  came  the  Bishops,  Deans,  and  Vicars, 
to  account  to  the  good  old  King  of  their 
administration.  These  began:  "See,  your 
Majesty,  how  worthy  we  are !  We  have 
fleeced  from  our  flocks  as  much  as  it  was 
in^  our  power  to  do.  We  have  torn 
down  the  old  churches  and  erected  mag- 
nificent cathedrals  upon  their  sites ;  for 
which  our  richer  brethren  have  rewarded 
us  by  raising  our  salaries.  We  have 
been  very  strict  in  the  government  of  our 


94  THE    GREAT    KING 

churches,  preaching  twice  upon  each  month. 
We  have  hot  wasted  our  substance ;  for 
from  keeping  all  we  got,  we  have  amassed 
an  easy  competence.  We  have  always  in- 
culcated the  sound  doctrine  of  the  Bible, 
and  have  taught  the  poor  to  give  cheer- 
fully to  each  other.  We  have  visited  the 
sick  and  the  poor,  and  given  them  our 
counsel  and  our  prayers;  but  we  have 
withheld  the  gold,  deeming  our  counsel  bet- 
ter fitted  to  teach  them  the  self  denial  of 
the  Gospel,  than  to  place  them  in  the  way 
of  temptation,  where  they  may  be  in  dan- 
ger of  dressing  too  richly,  or  living  too 
luxuriously.  All  this  good  we  have  ac- 
complished." 

The  last  but  smaller  number  of  the 
King's  subjects  then  approached.  They 
were  plainly  clothed,  and  were  the  poor  of 


AND     HIS     SERVANTS.  95 

the  kingdom.  They  could  not  boast  of 
having  erected  palaces  or  cathedrals.  They 
had  never  considered  themselves  wise  ;  and 
feeling  their  lack  of  wisdom,  they  had 
sought  counsel  by  constant  correspondence 
with  their  master  while  he  was  abroad. 

All  they  placed  before  him  was  their 
effort  to  obedience,  and  faith  in  his  wisdom 
and  beneficence. 

Their  language  was :  "  Most  gracious 
Sovereign,  we  have  nothing  of  which  to 
boast ;  and  because  we  have  simply  followed 
your  counsel,  we  commend  ourselves  to 
your  mercy  for  the  many  imperfections  you 
will  find  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties 
which  have  devolved  upon  us." 

The  good  monarch,  after  a  brief  silence, 
thus  addressed  the  assembly : — 

My  subjects !  I  have  patiently  listened  to 


96  THE     GREAT     KING 

your  communications,  while  I  have  myself 
seen  more  than  you  are  conscious  of.  You, 
my  counsellors  and  courtiers,  have  acted 
from  motives  of  worldly  policy,  and  accord- 
ing to  your  own  will  and  pleasure.  The 
laws  which  you  have  passed  can  never  re- 
ceive my  sanction.  Your  wars  were  un- 
necessary, your  palaces  were  built  at  the 
expense  of  the  nation.  You  have  exacted 
what  I  never  required.  Away  with  you ! 
You,  Bishops,  Deans,  and  Vicars,  your 
works  cannot  receive  any  plaudits  from  me. 
They  brought  you  high  wages  and  popu- 
larity among  men.  Your  superb  cathedrals 
stand  proudly  in  the  sight  of  man,  but  sor- 
did and  low  are  the  souls  who  officiate  at 
their  altars.  Your  prayers  and  advice  you 
freely  gave  to  the  poor,  because  they  cost 
you  nothing ;  and  while  you  have  scrupu- 


AND     HIS     SERVANTS.  97 

lously  attended  to  all  the  outward  proprie- 
ties of  life,  your  hearts  are  the  seat  of 
every  unsanctified  passion.  You  must 
away.  You  have  not  one  qualification  to 
fit  you  for  my  kingdom. 

Turning  to  the  minority,  he  continued : 
You,  my  loyal  and  obedient  subjects,  have 
fulfilled  my  requirements  in  doing  to  others 
as  you  would  have  them  do  to  you.  Your 
correspondence  I  have  often  received,  and 
your  actions  I  have  approved  ;  your  qualifi- 
cations entitle  you  to  be  members  of  my 
household.  Come,  come  with  me — the  in- 
heritance is  yours ! 


To  THE  CHKISTLAJST  EEADEE  : — 

Every  individual  has  had  some  remarkable  era 
in  his  history,  which  has  forcibly  impressed  upon 
his  mind  the  claims  of  truth  and  virtue,  and  drawn 
him  to  the  paths  of  wisdom  by  exhibiting  its  re- 
ward. 

Be  this  my  apology  for  the  introduction  of  the 
following  dreams 

W.  S.  D. 


101 


DOWNEY'S  FIKST  DEEAM. 


ON  the  night  of  the  20th  of  January, 
1835,  while  I  was  residing  at  Kingston, 
Jamaica,  W.  I,  I  returned  home  to  my 
uncle's  residence,  from  the  theatre,  where 
I  had  been  jp  see  the  play  of  Eugene 
Aram.  About  three  quarters  past  twelve 
I  retired  to  rest ;  and  was  scarcely  asleep, 
when  I  thought  I  saw  the  houses  in  the 
city  disappearing,  and  the  sea  and  rivers 
dried  up.  At  the  same  moment  the  Blue 
Mountains  became  levelled  to  a  plain.  A 
great  number  of  men,  women,  and  children, 
of  every  age  and  appearance,  were  rushing 

9* 


102        DOWNEY'S    FIRST    DREAM. 

on  towards  the  east.  Anxious  to  learn 
what  had  happened,  I  asked  a  friend,  wno 
\vas  running  with  the  crowd,  what  was 
the  meaning  of  all  this.  He  replied,  Do 
you  not  know  ?  this  is  the  day  of  judg- 
ment. I  cried  out  to  him,  What  shall  I 
do  ?  His  answer  was,  I  cannot  tell  you, 
I  must  go  on.  So  away  he  hurried,  and 
I  followed.  I  soon  beheld  a  light  brighter 
than  the  noon-day  sun  shining  around  me  ; 
and  there  were  gathered  before  me  an  in- 
numerable assembly.  I  saw  the  clouds  to- 
wards the  east  part,  rolling  back  like  two 
great  folding  doors,  and  a  majestic  being 
appeared.  He  was  attended  by  a  host  of 
holy  angels.  So  great  was  the  effulgence 
of  divine  glory  that  I  was  forced  to  close 
my  eyes,  while  I  trembled  from  head  to 
foot.  With  all  the  sublimity  of  divine 


DOWNEY'S   FIRST  DREAM.        103 

majesty,  he  took  his  seat  upon  a  throne 
of  pure  gold.  The  immense  assembly  fell 
prostrate  to  the  ground.  When  they  were 
raised  from  their  prostration,  I  beheld,  to- 
wards the  right  hand  of  the  Great  One,  a 
most  beautiful  walk,  adorned  on  both 
sides  with  flowers  of  every  species.  Grace- 
ful fountains  of  marble  and  silver  spouted 
forth  their  columns  of  clear  water;  while 
the  dazzling  brightness  of  the  glory  of 
the  Judge  could  not  be  looked  steadily  upon 
with  the  naked  eye. 

The  grand  walk  led  to  the  clouds,  and 
all  who  passed  on  to  the  right  of  the 
throne,  disappeared  in  the  clouds. 

To  the  left  I  beheld  a  fearful  abyss, 
from  which  I  heard  great  thundering; 
and  there  issued  therefrom  thick  black 
column- 1  of  smoke,  so  that  all  was  dark 


104        DOWNEY'S  FIRST  DREAM. 

and  frightful.  I  saw  that  those  who  moved 
onward  to  the  left  dropped  into  the  abyss, 
and  were  seen  no  more.  All  this  lasted 
for  a  day  as  long  as  seven  days;  and 
when  all  had  disappeared,  I,  alone,  stood 
before  the  Judge,  pale  and  trembling.  I 
made  bold  to  approach  his  seat,  and  cry, 
Lord,  what  am  I  to  do?  With  sweet  and 
gracious  looks,  he  pointed  to  the  abyss; 
and  in  tones  of  melting  tenderness,  replied, 
I  do  not  wish  to  send  you  there,  and, 
pointing  to  the  pathway,  he  said,  You 
are  not  fit  to  ascend  to  this  place ;  but  go 
back  and  teach  until  I  am  ready  for  you, 
and  you  are  prepared  to  meet  me. 

I  noticed  the  Judge  had  marked  all  those 
who  had  ascended  the  walk.  I  asked  him 
if  he  would  not  ma  'k  me  also.  He  replied, 


DOWNEY'S  FIRST  DREAM.       105 

You  are  not  worthy  of  it.     So  saying,  he 
motioned  me  away,  and  disappeared. 

I  then  awoke,  and  felt  as  wretched  as 
man  may  feel,  until  I  was  led  to  decide  to 
live  and  die  in  the  service  of  the  kind  and 
gracious  Judge. 


106 


VISION  SECOND. 


NEW  ORLEANS,  LA.,  U.  S.  A. 
August  1,  1851. 

I  HAD  retired  to  bed  at  half  past  ten, 
p.  M.,  and  falling  asleep,  I  dreamed  I  was 
in  a  sequestered  spot.  Tired  and  hungry 
with  the  travels  of  the  day,  I  had  seated 
myself  upon  a  little  hillock.  Looking 
about,  I  beheld  one  flying  from  the  clouds 
towards  the  place  where  I  sat.  As  he  ap- 
proached me,  he  threw  aside  his  veil,  and 
displayed  a  figure  of  unequalled  beauty. 

Addressing  me — Child  of  sorrow,  he  said, 
I  am  sent  both  to  instruct  and  succor  you. 


VISION    SECOND.  107 

He  then  bade  me  take  hold  of  his  robe, 
which  I  did,  when  he  bore  me  with  him  to 
the  summit  of  a  lofty  mountain.  Alighted 
there,  I  saw,  at  its  base,  a  large  field,  and  in 
its  centre  an  orchard,  crowded  with  trees  of 
every  sort.  It  was  surrounded  by  a  high 
wall,  at  different  points  of  which  were  four 
gates. 

My  guide  bade  me  notice  what  I  saw, 
and  asked,  Are  you  not  hungry?  I  re- 
plied, Yes.  He  questioned,  What  do  you 
notice  in  yonder  orchard?  I  answered,  I 
see  numerous  trees  crowded  with  leaves, 
but  nt)  fruit. 

He  bade  me  follow  him.  We  descended 
to  the  orchard,  and  closely  examined  the 
trees,  but  could  discover  no  fruit.  Will  not 
the  beauty  of  the  orchard,  the  limbs  of  the 

trees,  or  their  numerous  leaves,  satisfy  your 
10 


108  VISION    SECOND. 

hunger?  said  he.  No,  I  replied.  He  then 
took  from  his  bosom  a  wand,  and  pointing 
it  to  the  trees,  he  pronounced,  Be  fruitful! 
Instantly  every  tree  was  loaded  with  the 
richest  fruits.  At  his  request  I  freely 
plucked  and  ate.  My  hunger  was  ap- 
peased. 

He  then  addressed  me  as  follows:  Open 
your  ears,  hear,  and  be  wise.  This  field  is 
the  world.  The  orchard  is  the  one  true 
church,  and  Christ  is  its  body.  The  differ- 
ent trees  which  you  see,  are  the  different 
denominations  of  Christians.  The  branches 
and  leaves,  which  could  not  satisfy  your 
hunger,  are  the  prayers  of  nominal  Chris- 
tians, which  avail  little  in  the  sight  of  God. 
The  fruits,  which  have  since  refreshed  you, 
and  made  you  glad,  are  the  works  of  good 


VISION    SECOND.  109 

men,  which  are  ever  well  pleasing  in  the 
sight  of  GOD. 

Go  upon  your  way,  said  he,  and  be  for 
the  future  more  watchful  over  your  own 
heart,  than  you  are  to  notice  the  conduct  of 
others.  He  then  flew  away  and  left  me, 
and  I  awoke. 


110 


VISION  THIRD. 


ST.  SIDWELLS,  EXETER,  ENGLAND. 
August  10,  1852. 

I  HAD  retired  to  rest  at  12  p.  M.,  and 
was  scarcely  asleep,  when  I  thought  I  be 
held  a  light  in  the  heavens  much  brightei 
than  the  noon.  While  I  looked,  the  skies 
opened,  and  a  heavenly  messenger  appeared 
before  me.  His  hair  was  like  threads  of 
gold.  His  countenance  more  comely  than 
any  maiden  I  have  ever  looked  upon.  His 
raiment  was  much  whiter  than  wool.  In 
his  right  hand  he  bore  an  artificial  branch 
of  the  rose  tree,  upon  which  bloomed  one 
flower  composed  of  the  most  precious  and 


VISION     THIRD.  Ill 

brilliant  stones.  Over  his  left  arm  fell  a 
scarf  richly  wrought  with  threads  of  gold, 
and  thickly  studded  with  gems :  from  it  was 
suspended  a  large  golden  cross. 

He  made  me  to  understand  that  the  arti- 
ficial branch  was  an  emblem  of  "  Forget  me 
not."  That  the  scarf  and  the  golden  cross 
were  the  property  of  the  Church  of  Rome. 
He  then  held  up  both  hands  to  heaven  and 
cried  aloud,  "  The  Church  of  Rome  shall  no 
longer  be  forgotten  before  God."  When  he 
had.  uttered  this  three  times,  the  clouds 
opened  and  received  him  from  my  view 

These  dreams,  I  solemnly  declare,  came  to 
me  as  I  have  related  them. 

WM.  SCOTT  DOWNEY. 


112 
VISION  FOURTH. 


I  HAD  been  sojourning  some  months  in  the 
Crescent  City  (New  Orleans,  La.).  August, 
1850,  I  embarked  from  that  place  in  the 
ship  Eastern  Queen,  Capt.  Ross,  for  Liver- 
pool, England. 

We  had  been  about  a  week  at  sea,  when 
one  night,  about  the  12th  of  the  said  month, 
I  retired  to  rest.  I  slept,  and  as  I  dreamed, 
I  saw  in  the  midst  of  the  Atlantic  a  vine,  the 
root  of  which  was  in  the  middle  of  the 
ocean,  and  its  top  reached  to  the  clouds. 
Large  bunches  of  grapes  were  hanging  from 
its  uppermost  branches.  The  captain  and 
his  crew  vainly  endeavored  to  procure  some 
of  the  huge  and  delicious  looking  clusters. 
Some  succeeded  in  climbing  a  quarter,  some 
a  half,  and  but  few  three-fourths  of  the  way, 
when  they  fell  to  the  deck  of  the  vessel,  or 
over  into  the  sea,  and  sank  beneath  its 
mighty  waves.  My  turn,  I  trembled  with 
apprehension.  I  hugged  the  body  of  the 


VISION     FOURTH.  1122 

vine,  and  succeeded  in  climbing  a  quarter  of 
the  way,  when  I  fell ;  but  again  I  tried  to 
reach  my  object  :  at  the  third  ascent  I 
reached  the  fruit,  plucked  a  rich  cluster, 
concealed  it  in  my  bosom,  and  descended  in 
safety,  to  the  astonishment  of  those  who 
watched  me  from  thfe  deck.  I  then  divided 
my  grapes  with  those  around  me. 

My  readers  will  understand  since  this 
dream  occurred  I  have  seen  much  of  the 
world  ;  have  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
several  eminent  men  ;  attended  home  and 
foreign  courts  ;  circulated  ten  editions  of 
my  book  of  Proverbs,  and  preached  hun- 
dreds of  sermons,  glorying  in  my  election, 
and  "in  the  strength  of  the  Lord"  overcom- 
ing difficulties,  which  at  first  seemed  insur- 
mountable. 

Man  walking  in  the  strength  of  God  is 
strong  ;  but  resting  in  his  own  self-sufficiency 
is  feeble,  and  inadequate  to  overcome  the 
temptations  of  a  dangerous  and  deceiving 
world. 


NAMES  OF  SOME  DISTINGUISHED  PERSONAGES 
FROM  THE  SUBSCRIPTION  LIST. 


HER  MOST  GRACIOUS  MAJESTY  VICTOEIA  L,  ENGLAND. 
His  MAJESTY  NAPOLEON  HI.,  FRANCE. 
His  EXCELLENCY  PRESIDENT  PIERCE,  U.  S.  AMERICA. 
His  EOYAL  HIGHNESS  THE  DUKE  OF  CAMBRIDGE,  ENGLAND. 
THE  RIGHT  HONORABLE  LORD  PALMERSTON,  " 

"  "  LORD  ABERDEEN,  " 

LORD  CLARENDON,  " 

LORD  WM.  PAULET,  " 

HONORABLE  GERALD  PONSONBY,  " 

"         JAMES  CAMPBELL,  P.  M.  G.,      U.  S.  AMERICA. 

"       ROBERT  MCCLELLAND,  s.  i.,       •«       " 

"         JAMES  GUTHRD3,  S.  T.,  "          " 

"         W.  L.  MARCY,  S.  S.,  "          " 

J.  C.  DOBBIN,  S.  N.,  "          " 

"         JEFF.  DAVIS,  S.  W.,  "          " 

RIGHT  REV'D  Da.  M.  EASTBURN,  BOSTON,  MASS. 

"  _       "    HORATIO  POTTER,  NEW  YORK. 

HONORABLE  ABBOTT  LAWRENCE,  BOSTON,  MASS. 

"         ROBERT  C.  WINTHROP,  LL.  D.,        "          " 

LIEUTENANT  M.  F.  MAURY,  LL.  D.,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

GOVERNOR  HENRY  A.  WISE,  VIRGINIA. 

«          S.  P.  CHASE,  OHIO. 

RIGHT  REV.  DR.  S.  ELLIOTT,  BP.  OF  SAVANNAH. 
And  above  2000  others. — W.  S.  D. 
10* 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  BOSTON  PEESS. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

"Wisdom  in  miniature.  Eev.  William  Scott 
Downey,  B.D.,  has  published  a  fifth  edition  of  his 
Book  of  Proverbs,  which  he  inscribes  to  Eev. 
Phineas  Stowe.  The  book  is  full  of  brief,  pithy, 
sensible,  and  striking  paragraphs,  each  detached 
from  the  other,  but  all  forming  a  chain  of  wisdom 
and  truth. 

Mr.  Downey  has  upon  his  subscription  list  the 
names  of  some  of  the  most  eminent  divines,  mer- 
chants, and  scholars  of  this  city,  and  the  work  is 
printed  and  covered  in  a  style  worthy  of  the  con- 
tents.— Daily  Courier,  1853. 


116     OPINIONS    OF    THE    BOSTON    PRESS. 


PROVERBS. 

By  Eev.  William  Scott  Downey,  B.D.  We  are 
indebted  to  the  author  for  a  copy  of  this  most 
excellent  work.  A  fifth  edition  has  just  been 
issued,  and  is,  we  are  pleased  to  learn,  meeting 
with  a  rapid  sale.  Its  contents  are  full  of  instruc- 
tive merit.  Many  of  the  proverbs  contain  the 
true  gems  of  thought,  conveyed  in  the  most  sen- 
tentious and  pointed  language.  It  is  a  book  that 
possesses  the  elements  of  a  permanent  interest,  and 
should  be  on  every  table.  Its  author  is  a  most 
worthy  man.  He  is  now  in  our  city  and  will  be 
happy  to  dispose  of  his  book.  It  is  worthy  to 
mention  that  the  "  Proverbs"  have  passed  through 
five  large  editions  in  this  country.  Among  the 
list  of  subscribers  are  some  of  our  first  citizens. — 
Daily.Bee,  July  9,  1853. 


DOWNEY'S  BOOK  OF  PROVERBS 
Has  been  handsomely  published  in  a  little  vo 


OPINIONS    OF    THE    BOSTON    PRESS. 

lume.  It  is  a  good-hearted  and  well-intended 
volume,  and  contains  some  proverbs  of  more  than 
common  excellence.  Eev.  Mr.  Downey  resides  in 
this  city,  and  is  an  entirely  inoffensive  gentleman, 
desirous  of  doing  some  good  in  his  day,  and  turn- 
ing his  work  to  some  account.  The  volume  will 
look  handsomely  on  the  centre  table,  and  may  be 
taken  up  at  any  time  with  advantage. — Bunker 
Hill  Aurora  and  Boston  Mirror,  July  23c£,  1853. 


DOWNEY'S  PEOVERBS. 

Rev.  William  Scott  Downey,  who,  we  believe, 
has  become  a  resident  of  this  city,  has  just  issued 
here,  from  the  press  of  J.  M.  Hewes,  a  handsome 
little  volume — the  fifth  edition — chiefly  confined  to 
short,  pithy,  and  sensible  proverbs,  but  containing 
also  two  or  three  more  lengthy  essays  or  tales  of  a 
good  moral  and  religious  tendency,  and  an  account 
of  three  veritable  dreams  of  the  author.  As  Mr. 

Downey's  object  seems  to  be  "  to  do  good  and  com- 
11 


118      OPINIONS    OF    THE    BOSTON    PKESS. 

tnunicate,"  and  as  this  pretty  volume  will  promote 
that  end,  we  cannot  but  hope  that  it  will  have  an 
extensive  circulation.  His  proverbs  are  all  good 
and  instructive,  and  some  of  them  are  worthy  of 
an  enduring  place  in  the  memory. — Daily  Eve- 
ning Traveller,  July  25th,  1853. 


BOOK  OF  PROVERBS. 

The  fifth  edition  of  a  very  useful  and  neatly  exe- 
cuted little  work,  entitled  "  Proverbs,  by  William 
Scott  Downey,  B.D.,"  has  just  been  published  in 
Boston  by  the  author,  from  whom  we  have  received 
an  elegant  bound  copy.  Besides  the  proverbs,  it 
contains  sundry  allegories  and  dreams,  which  make 
it  unique  as  well  as  instructive.  In  the  list  of  sub- 
scribers appended  to  it,  we  observe  the  names  of 
Governor  Clifford,  Hon.  Abbott  Lawrence,  Hon.  R. 
C.  Winthrop,  Mayor  Seaver,  Rev.  Dr.  Bastburn, 
Bev.  Dr.  Vinton,  Rev.  Dr.  Walker,  of  Cambridge, 
and  many  other  distinguished  citizens.  Mr.  Dow- 


OPINIONS    OF    THE    BOSTON    PRESS.      119 

ney  was  formerly  a  missionary  in  the  British  West 
India  Islands,  and  seems  to  possess  a  truly  catholic 
spirit,  and  to  be  animated  by  a  philanthropic  feel- 
ing.— Liberator,  July  29th,  1853. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

A  Book  of  Proverbs,  by  Rev.  William  Scott 
Downey,  has  been  sent  us  by  the  author.  It  is 
published  in  good  style,  and  contains  most  excel- 
lent sentiments,  conveyed  in  a  very  terse  and 
striking  manner.  The  author's  list  of  subscription 
contains  the  names  of  nearly  the  whole  body  of 
Protestant  clergymen  in  this  city  and  its  vicinity. 
— Daily  Evening  Transcript,  August  8th,  1853. 


We  are  indebted  to  the  Author,  Rev.  William 
Scott  Downey,  B.D.,  for  a  copy  of  a  neat  little 
volume  of  Proverbs,  chiefly  of  a  moral  and  reli- 
gious nature.  It  is  from  the  press  of  Mr.  J.  M. 
Hewes.  The  book  is  beautifully  printed,  and  i* 


120     OPINIONS    OF    THE    BOSTON    PRESS. 

contents  bespeak  the  author  to  be  a  profound 
thinker  of  generous  and  kindly  sentiments,  and 
alive  to  the  frailties  and  wants  of  his  fellow-men. 
As  his  errand  among  us  is  one  of  religious  love, 
Christian  benevolence,  and  pious  zeal,  we  wish  him 
all  success  in  his  undertakings,  and .  an  extended 
sale  to  his  excellent  little  compendium  of  wisdom. 
—Daily  Atlas,  Aug.  1,  1853. 


We  are  indebted  to  the  author  for  a  copy  of 
a  neat  little  volume,  entitled  "  Proverbs :  by  Eev. 
William  Scott  Downey,  B.D."  It  contains  many 
excellent  maxims  which  it  would  be  well  if  the 
world  would  follow,  and  abounds  with  that  charity 
and  good  nature  which  marks  the  bearing  of  the 
author.  He  has  just  received  from  Queen  Vic- 
toria's chief  secretary  the  following  note,  written 
in  a  neat  hand  and  in  good  taste : — 

OSBORNE,  Aug.  22,  1863. 

EEV.  SIR — I  have  received  the  commands  of  her 
Majesty  the  Queen  to  inform  you  of  the  receipt  of 


OPINIONS    OF    THE    BOSTON    PRESS.      121 

the  book  which  accompanied  your  letter  of  the  2d 
inst.,  and  which  has  been  very  graciously  accepted 
by  her  Majesty. 

I  am  further  commanded  to  assure  you  of  her 
Majesty's  high  appreciation  of  the  loyal  sentiments 
expressed  in  your  letter. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  reverend  sir, 
Your  obedient  and  humble  servant, ' 
C.  B.  PHIPPS. 

Eev.  W.  8.  Downey. 

[Post,  Sept.  7th,  1853. 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  ALBANY 


PROVEEBS. 

BY  REV.  WILLIAM  SCOTT  DOWNEY,  B.  D. 
This  is  a  pleasant  and  instructive  little  work, 
deserving  a  place  on  everybody's  table.  It  is 
full  of  terse  sayings  and  sentiments,  all  tending 
to  the  promotion  of  a  high  Christian  morality. 
It  is  published  in  excellent  style,  and  contains  a 
great  deal  of  good,  without  any  mixture  of  evil. 
Its  tone  is  that  of  kindness,  and,  what  is  not  com- 
mon in  such  productions,  tolerant. 

"  Never  be  angry  with  your  neighbor  because 
his  religious  views  differ  from  your  own ;  for 
all  the  branches  of  a  tree  do  not  lean  the  same 
way,"  is  one  of  the  proverbs,  and  contains  the 


.     REV.  DR.  BOWLING'S  OPINION.     123 

spirit  of  the  whole  book. — Albany  Daily  State 
Register,  Feb.  28th,  1854. 


PROVERBS. 

BY  REV.  WILLIAM  SCOTT  DOWNEY.  We  are 
under  many  obligations  to  the  author  for  a  beau- 
tiful copy  of  this  pleasant  little  volume.  Its  pro- 
verbs are  full  of  wisdom,  and,  in  their  themes  and 
instruction,  valuable  and  interesting.  We  com- 
mend him  and  his  work  to  the  attention  of  the 
thoughtful. — Albany  Journal,  Feb.  10$.,  1854. 


REV.  DR.  DOWLING'S  OPINION. 

I  have  read  with  considerable  interest  and  satis- 
faction, the  little  volume,  entitled  "Downey's  Pro- 
verbs." It  consists  chiefly  of  a  number  of  sen- 
tentious and  pithy  original  sayings,  all  of  good 
moral  tendency,  and  affording  materials  for  reflec- 
tion and  thought. 


124      OPINION    OF    OHIO    PLAIN    DEALER. 

The  volume  is  got  up  in  admirable  style.     In 
its  exterior,  it  is  a  perfect  gem  of  a  book,  and  a 
beautiful  little  ornament  for  the  centre-table. 
JOHN  DOWLING, 

Pastor  of  Sansom  Street  Baptist  Church, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 


A  NEW  BOOK  OF  PROVERBS. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Author,  REV.  WILLIAM 
SCOTT  DOWNEY,  of  England,  an  able  missionary 
of  the  Baptist  denomination  in  India,  and  a  gentle- 
man of  enviable  attainments,  for  an  elegantly 
bound,  and  highly  valuable  volume  of  Proverbs, 
written  by  himself.  He  has  with  him  a  supply 
for  sale,  and  every  centre-table  should  be  adorned 
with  a  copy.  If  such  works  could  take  the  place 
of  the  trash  now  read  with  such  avidity,  the  change 
would  be  vastly  beneficial. — Cleveland,  Ohio,  Plain 
Dealer,  June  29&,  1866. 


EVENING     UNION'S     OPINION.       125 


NEW  PUBLICATIONS. 

PROVEEBS  :  By  Rev.  William  Scott  Downey,  B.  D. 
Seventh  Edition.  Philadelphia :  Lippincott, 
Grambo  &  Co.  1855. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  elegant  volumes  we  have 
lately  seen,  and  reflects  great  credit  upon  the  pub- 
lishing house  whose  name  it  bears.  It  comprises 
a  large  variety  of  Proverbs  on  various  subjects, 
designed  to  present  moral  maxims  in  as  forcible  a 
manner  as  possible.  The  author  has  evidently 
spent  much  time  and  labor  on  his  favorite  work  ; 
and  to  many  its  interior  will  prove  as  attractive  as 
its  exterior  to  all  who  appreciate  perfection  in  the 
book-making  art. — Evening  Union,  Rochester,  N.  Y!, 
August  31. 


"DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS." 

REV.  W.  SCOTT  DOWNEY,  B.  D.,  an  able  divine 
from  England,  is  now  in  this  city,  for  the  purpose 
of  selling  a  volume  of  Proverbs,  of  which  he  is 
the  author.  We  have  been  acquainted  with  Mr. 

D.  for  two  or  three  years,  and  know  him  to  be  a 
11* 


126     OPINION    OF    CAROLINA    TIMES. 

pious,  zealous,  and  able  defender  of  "the  faith 
once  delivered  to  the  saints."  We  hope  he  may 
receive  from  our  community  that  liberal  patronage 
which  he  so  richly  deserves.  This  volume  of 
Proverbs  has  already  passed  through  six  editions, 
and,  from  present  appearances,  will  pass  through 
as  many  more.  Its  literary  merit  is  equal  to  its 
mechanical  execution,  which,  indeed,  can  scarcely 
be  surpassed. — Fred.  Douglass*  Paper,  Rochester, 
N.Y. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

We  take  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  receipt 
of  a  very  handsome  copy  of  "  Proverbs,  by  REV. 
W.  S.  DOWNEY,  B.D.,"  placed  in  our  hand  by  its 
talented  author,  who  is  now  in  this  city  on  a  visit. 
Multum  in  parvo  is  stamped  upon  every  page ;  and 
we  recommend  the  work  to  all  classes  of  society, 
especially  the  young,  who  may  gather  from  its 
richly  laden  pages,  sentiments  embracing  princi- 
ples which,  if  strictly  observed  and  practised 
through  life,  cannot  fail  to  refine  and  elevate 


OPINION  OF  RICHMOND  DESPATCH.    127 

human  nature.  Every  parent  ought  to  secure  a 
copy  for  his  or^  her  offspring ;  it  is  worth  more 
than  a  thousand  copies  of  the  so-called  literary 
productions  now  flooding  the  country. — The  Daily 
Carolina  Times,  Columbia,  &  C.,  March  3,  1856. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

THE  REV.  "W.  S.  DOWNEY  presented  us  yester- 
day with  a  copy  of  his  Book  of  Proverbs,  very 
handsomely  printed.  These  proverbs  exhibit  a 
good  deal  of  common  sense,  conveyed  in  pithy 
sentences.  Mr.  D.  boasts  of  some  very  high  names 
in  the  list  of  subscribers  to  his  little  book.  "We 
observe  among  them  Queen  Victoria,  Louis  Napo- 
leon, President  Pierce,  and  various  noblemen  and 
high  officials. — The  Daily  Despatch,  Richmond,  Fa., 
April  23,  1856. 


128    CHARLESTON  COURIER'S  OPINION. 


DOWNEY'S  PROVERBS. 

PROVERBS:  By  Eev.  William  Scott  Downey,  B.D. 
Eighth  Edition.  J.  P.  Lippincott  &  Co.,  Phila- 
delphia. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  kind  attention  of  the 
author  for  a  copy  of  this  useful  and  comprehensive 
work,  in  a  most  elegant  form.  The  author,  now  a 
resident  of  Boston,  is  by  birth  an  Englishman,  and 
has  labored  for  some  years  as  a  missionary  of  the 
Baptists  in  -the  British  West  Indies.  The  original 
subscription  list  for  the  first  edition  was  graced  by 
many  distinguished  names  of  both  continents,  and 
the  work  has  also  received  the  strongest  commen- 
dations from  the  press.  It  may,  indeed,  claim  a 
merit  that  cannot  be  allowed  to  many  works ;  it 
answers  fully  its  title  and  all  expectations  excited 
by  its  promise  and  plan.  The  author  is  now  in 
our  city. — The  Charleston  Daily  Courier,  £  (7.,  Jan- 
uary 2,  1856. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


HAY  1  7  19521 

APR  15  1953 
MAY  1 1  1900 


roi  L9-25m-9,'47(A5618)444 


BV 

4501   Downey  - 


D75p  Proverbs 
1858 


*WY  1  7 


BV 
4501 
D75p 
1858 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY    ACUITY 


A     001  043  454 


<H«2*^ 


m 


